This book presents 19 chapters on life span perspectives and service issues for people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. The book presents best practices and provides a view of the range of services necessary to work with people who have those disabilities. It is intended to provide a core reference for providers in the helping disciplines and makes extensive use of case studies to demonstrate key concepts. Chapter titles and authors are: (1) "Service Delivery" (Pamela Wolfe and others); (2) "Early Intervention" (Rebecca Anderson Weissman and David C. Littman); (3) "Going to School" (Kathryn A. Blake and others); (4) "Transition from School to Adulthood" (Katherine Inge and others); (5) "Growing Older" (Michael Malone and Nancy Kropf); (6) "Mild Mental Retardation" (John Langone); (7) "Severe Mental Retardation" (William R. Sharpton and Michael D. West); (8) "Cerebral Palsy" (Katherine Inge); (9) "Seizure Disorders" (Elizabeth Perry-Varner); (10) "Behavioral Disabilities" (Elaine Clark); (11) "Autistic Disorder" (Ronald C. Eaves); (12) "Self-Injurious Behavior" (David Pitonyak); (13) "Deaf-Blind" (JoAnn M. Marchant); (14) "Learning Disabilities" (William N. Bender); (15) "Case Management" (Susan Neal and Beth Gilson); (16) "Community-Based Vocational Training" (Katherine Inge and others); (17) "Supported Employment" (Paul Wehman and Wendy Parent); (18) "Supported Living and Collaborative Transition" (Tom J. Clees); and (19) "Social Security" (Susan O'Mara and John Kregel). (Individual chapters contain references.) (DB)